Chattanooga visitor spending to top $1 billion in 2014, officials say (with video)

For the first time, visitor spending in Hamilton County this year is expected to top $1 billion, tourism officials said today.

Bob Doak, who heads the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, said tourism spending had grown 57 percent over the past decade, citing U.S. Travel Association figures.

"The state of the tourism industry is strong and getting stronger," said Doak at the CVB's annual meeting.

He cited the Ironman competition this weekend that's expected to draw almost 15,000 people to downtown Chattanooga.

Doak said Chattanooga didn't offer the No. 1 bid for the triathlon, but its organizers came to the city anyway.

"We've learned how to roll out the red carpet," he told about 1,ooo people at the annual meeting. "We know how to produce and stage events."

See more in Wednesday's Times Free Press.

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